in our family

by Rachel Marie Martin

:: we call peanut butter and jelly sandwiches PGJ’s.  Thanks to a 3 year old who didn’t say B.

:: we decorate the kitchen the night before a birthday so that the birthday person wakes up to a celebration.

Brennan and Grace – November 2006

:: we hang the number of streamers as the age on the birthday family member’s door.

:: we never seem to be caught up on laundry.

:: we constantly are telling little one’s to be careful when shutting doors.

:: we homeschool — in our kitchen.

:: we have science experiments on my kitchen window sill and on the counters.

:: we’ve homeschooled for ten years.

:: we have Nerf basketball hoop on our family room door.

:: we no longer have the basketball.

:: we go through an entire box of Clementine Oranges in one day.

:: yes, one day.

:: we have a rotating chart for kitchen duties.

:: we love art.

:: we have a massive garage sale in the spring.

:: we have to move many many many bikes from the garage and put them on the front porch.

:: we can be goofy.  Just slightly. 🙂

:: we have a Keurig coffee maker that has been used every single day since it’s purchase.

:: we have a birthday to celebrate  8 months out of the year.

:: everyone has their own birthday month except for Samuel and Caleb — they share September.

:: Samuel was due in October.  If he had been born then we’d all have our own month.

Samuel in October 2009 – 2 weeks old

:: we have the kids exchange names for Christmas

:: we forgot to do that this year.

:: we love watching The Food Network

:: we really really really listen to our kids.

:: we believe parenting is a great responsibility — one that must be covered in prayer.

:: we take our kids out for one on one time

:: we garden.

:: okay, I garden, but my family reaps the rewards.  Who doesn’t like fresh peas? Or tomatoes?

:: we work together

:: we love being with our children.

:: we love samples at Costco

:: we can easily fill the back of the truck with food for the week.

:: we eat lots of fruit. Remember the Clementines?

:: we go to the lake in the summer with my family.  Every year since I was eight.

that’s our dock — sigh

:: we use big blocks of time at the dentist. Or eye doctor.  All done at once!

:: we provide lots of business for medical professionals.

Brennan before his tonsil surgery

:: we love to play Fruit Ninja on Chloe’s Ipod Touch

:: we, okay that’s me, wishes for an Ipad.

:: yes, my word is content.  I’m working on it.

:: we are thankful for Saturdays.

:: we share.

:: we believe that family is a gift. 

old fam pic — 2007 — 2 weeks before Elijah was born

*************
How about you?
What are some of your — in our family — lines?

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13 comments

RicKaren January 13, 2011 - 5:13 pm

This is precious! LOVE the treasure of family!

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Juiceboxes and Wipes January 13, 2011 - 6:19 pm

Rachel,
I LOVE this post! I’m gonna do one on my blog…more for me than anyone else! I never want to forget a moment of this madness 😉
Nicki

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carissa @ lowercase letters January 13, 2011 - 6:48 pm

This is such a sweet post. All I can think is, wow, what a family!!! That family picture from ’07 is precious… You look so tiny to be full term! In our family we like chocolate way more than we should. We also like fruit, though, too… It helps make up for all the chocolate. Just this morning Hunter tried feeding Sage his chocolate milk; he’s starting her early! ; )

Ps. I love your family!

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Krystle January 13, 2011 - 7:19 pm

What a fun post and what a great family!

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Child of God January 13, 2011 - 7:30 pm

Looks amazing and very busy! My sister has 6 kids and homeschooled them all. She was busy but very happy and she too did the garden while others enjoyed. 🙂

God bless,
<><

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Lea January 13, 2011 - 8:29 pm

Loved this list! We all need to do one, we learn a lot about the person making the list. I so admire your family and am inspired every time I read one of your entries.

Blessings as you and your husband raise some of our country’s great leaders of tomorrow. Hugs!

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Theresa January 14, 2011 - 12:36 am

Love this post! We love Clementines too, and free samples at Costco. What a great family picture…but I can hardly believe you were pregnant. Wow!

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Sarah January 14, 2011 - 12:47 am

I LOVE this post! I absolutely love to hear of the fun, quirky things that other big families do. 🙂

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Kelli January 14, 2011 - 1:32 am

Oh, this is a beautiful post…I will have to do this. Loved reading about you and your family…what a beautiful family.

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Cinnamon January 14, 2011 - 4:45 am

How fun to peek into what is the norm in your home.

We have two children that not only share a Sept. birthday but were born on the same day, 3 yrs apart!

I love your last photo. You do not look like you were due in 2 wks!!

Thanks for sharing~ Cinnamon

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BARBIE January 14, 2011 - 4:58 am

What a wonderful post. I love getting more glimpses into the ordinary life of Rachel and her family. I am thinking this would be fun to do on my blog as well. Blessings!

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lmworley416 January 14, 2011 - 6:54 am

It takes you a whole day to get through the oranges? I doubt that! :o)
Praying right now!
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Prayer Bears
My email address

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Brian Smith February 22, 2013 - 3:23 pm

Looks amazing and very busy! My sister has 6 kids and homeschooled them all. She was busy but very happy and she too did the garden while others enjoyed. 🙂 God bless, <><

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